Stan Walker's latest song is being tipped for an Oscar nomination.
The 'Bigger' singer has released 'I Am' alongside a music video that was shot around Aotearoa. The single will feature in director Ava DuVernay's latest film Origin.
The film follows journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson as she writes her Pulitzer Prize-winning book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, which looks at the caste system, social hierarchy and racism around the world.
The song's video got its first airing on American prime-time morning television with CBS Mornings' anchor Gayle King raving about both the film and Walker's music.
King used her spotlight to declare Walker as a "contender" for an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.
She also explained how DuVernay managed to track down Walker, revealing social media had played a big part.
"Ava goes to Instagram to see if they have any mutual friends. She finds they have a couple of mutual friends, reaches out to them through DMs. Next thing she knows, 24 hours later she's on the phone with Stan Walker."
DuVernay confirmed she had discovered Walker after hearing his rendition of Kanye West's song 'Ultralight Beam'.
"I watched it four times, back-to-back. I jumped online and blessedly, we had a producer pal of mine, Chelsea Winstanley, in common," she said.
DuVernay is no stranger to New Zealand culture.
She shot the movie A Wrinkle in Time, which starred Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Chris Pine and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, here in 2017.
She also revealed she and Walker had become kindred spirits while recording.
"The comfort factor was instant for me. The trust was immediate. His spirit and creative energy shine through - even on a phone call from across the world. We discovered that we share the same belief - that art can change the world."
In a statement from his record label, Walker said his song was for anyone who "felt like they don't know who they are."
"'I Am' is a declaration, not just who I am, but a declaration for anybody who has ever felt like they don't know who they are. Everyone has a different story, and some people are ashamed because their cultures have been attached to negative things. I have lived that life but that is not what our culture is."
On Wednesday morning, Walker shared on his Instagram Stories that he was at the prestigious film awards show The Gotham Independent Film Awards. Also at the event were the likes of Margot Robbie, Leonardo di Caprio and The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey.
Walker was pictured in GQ's online spread featuring the best of the fashion from the event.
Origin has yet to receive a New Zealand release date.
